As New Mexico approaches its 2026 Primary Election on June 2, early voting turnout has already exceeded the numbers from the 2024 primary. Nearly 95,000 New Mexicans have taken advantage of early voting, which began on May 16 and will end on May 30. This surge in early participation reflects a growing engagement among voters in the state.

Doña Ana County Leads Early Voting

In Doña Ana County, a significant portion of the electorate has already made their voices heard. As of May 26, 6,294 residents have voted early, with 4,706 identifying as Democrats, 1,567 as Republicans, and 646 choosing not to state a party affiliation. Additionally, 2,023 residents have opted to vote absentee.

New Mexico’s semi-open primary system allows voters not registered with a qualified political party to participate by selecting a major party’s ballot. This flexibility has led to 9,000 such voters participating statewide, with 6,962 voting in the Democrat Primary and 2,038 in the Republican Primary. In Doña Ana County, 516 non-affiliated voters chose the Democrat Primary, while 134 selected the Republican Primary.

Voting Locations and Schedule

Early voting in Doña Ana County began on May 5 at the Doña Ana County Government Center and will continue until May 29, operating Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday, May 30 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Alternate site early voting locations opened on May 16 and will remain open through May 30, Tuesday through Saturday.

The alternate voting sites include Anthony Library, HVPS Student Services in Hatch, and several Doña Ana County Community College locations in Chaparral, Las Cruces, and Sunland Park, among others. On Election Day, June 2, voting locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and mailed ballots must be received by 7 p.m. to be counted.

Original reporting: Las Cruces Sun News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.